Life is hard. Life is rough. It can be miserable, discouraging, hurtful, and make you feel like you are spiraling out of control into a vast pit of hopelessness. However, my absolute favorite author of all time, John Green, put it best: “We need never be hopeless because we can never be irreparably broken.” (Looking For Alaska)
We are never too far gone, we are never in a situation so horrible that it can’t be turned around.
Bad days, bad weeks, and even bad months are bound to happen, none of us are immune to the cruelties of this world. But there is always something to look forward to, to be joyous about. Whether it’s the biggest thing that’s ever happened to you or just a bright little moment in the middle of a dark day, life is full of precious experiences we get to treasure.
It’s a bad day, not a bad life, and there is always a reason to smile, even if it seems tiny and insignificant. For starters, here are 100.
1. Waking up in the morning
2. Coffee, not just in the morning
3. Lazy days
4. Cute little animals
5. Phone calls with your mom
6. Hugs
7. Kisses
8. Hugs and Kisses
9. Coming home after a long day
10. A home-cooked meal
11. Acing that test you studied really hard for
12. The perfect playlist
13. Rain
14. Fresh bouquets of flowers
15. Breakfast foods, also not just in the morning
16. A really good workout
17. The fact that there's always tomorrow
18. Your best friend
19. Warm cookies and brownies
20. College football
21. Going to church
22. Reading a book that's so good you can't put it down
23. Seeing your favorite band live in concert
24. Little brothers
25. Other siblings too, I'm guessing
26. Parked car conversations late at night
27. Grocery shopping
28. Butterflies
29. Butterflies in your stomach
30. Going to the museum
31. Christmas time
32. Catching up with people
33. Waking up to see you still have a few more hours to sleep left
34. Coffee shops
35. Aquariums
36. Family vacations
37. Airports
38. Road trips
39. Decorating your house
40. Fuzzy socks
41. Accomplishing your big goals
42. Accomplishing your little goals
43. Opening up to someone for the first time
44. Freshly washed bed sheets
45. Cold weather
46. Hot weather, if you're into that
47. Your favorite artist releasing a new song
48. Inside jokes
49. Frankly, outside jokes
50. People watching
51. Finding something you swore you lost forever
52. Sleeping in
53. Checking everything off of your to-do list
54. Checking something off of your bucket list
55. Laughing until your stomach hurts
56. Mozzarella sticks
57. Being Tan
58. New clothes
59. Changing into your pajamas
60. Doing something out of your comfort zone
61. Getting a front row parking spot
62. Taking a really long, really hot, shower
63. Learning something new
64. Sunroofs
65. Polaroid photos
66. When your makeup turns out perfectly
67. Going on a date
68. Singing at the top of your lungs
69. Dancing in the kitchen
70. Dancing in the rain
71. Being complimented
72. Giving a compliment
73. Eating your favorite meal
74. Wearing your favorite outfit
75. Seeing someone you missed with your whole heart
76. Coming home to your dog
77. Spending time with your family
78. Nature
79. The first snow of winter
80. Looking back and seeing how far you've come
81. Getting lost in the moment
82. Holding hands
83. Feeling like a part of something bigger than yourself
84. Watching your favorite movie
85. Falling in love
86. Spontaneity
87. Pizza
88. School spirit
89. A full tank of gas
90. New school supplies
91. Being a tourist
92. The fact that you can read this article
93. And the fact that you can write one just like it
94. A fresh haircut
95. Cinnamon rolls
96. A clean and tidy bedroom
97. Being passionate
98. Your favorite color
99. Going to sleep tonight
100. The fact that you're loved. No matter what.
The list goes on and on. And even if you don't experience any of these things today or tomorrow, life is full of an infinite amount of chances to not only be something precious but to receive and experience precious things.
I beg of you to take a moment, pause, look around you, and simply smile. Because there is literally one hundred reasons to do so.
